Cycling: Sir Bradley Wiggins happy with preparation ahead of season debut in Mallorca

Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins found renewed motivation after being unable to defend his Tour de France title last year.

Last Updated: 06/02/14 2:25pm

Wiggins became the first British rider to win the three-week race in 2012 and followed up with a gold medal in the time-trial at the London Olympics later that summer.

A knighthood followed but Wiggins endured a difficult follow-up year and a knee injury meant he did not make the start line for the 2013 Tour de France.

In his absence, Team Sky colleague Chris Froome succeeded him as yellow jersey winner and the two could ride together at this year's race.

Wiggins told Sky Sports News: "Missing the Tour last year was the first time in 12 months that I could sit there, reflect and soak up what happened to me in 2012.

"At that stage I was right back to the drawing board and started to do all the little things again that got me to that point."

Wiggins has been riding for up to six hours a day at Team Sky's training camp in Mallorca and will make his season debut in the Challenge Mallorca series from February 9-12.

He added: "I had a good end to last season and we're (back) racing next weekend, hopefully we'll have a good year."

Scrutinised

Froome has been training in South Africa and will not make his opening appearance of the season until the Tour of Oman (Feb 18-23).

Team Sky's general manager Sir Dave Brailsford knows maintaining the success of the past two years is a tough challenge.

"The team 'feels' bigger. I think we get scrutinised more now. What we do know is that everything starts from scratch," said Brailsford.

"What we've done in the past counts for nothing now. Everybody is back on the start line. Everybody has zero points, all ready to go. If we want to win again we've got to do all the little things that got us there in the past."